Rose reveals he has ulcers before it's revealed he's an All-Star starter

Bulls point guard could miss Friday night's game with Magic but is expected to be fine

January 27, 2011|By K.C. Johnson, Tribune reporter

Derrick Rose poses in his All-Star uniform. (NBAE/Getty Images)

Given how much stress Derrick Rose has caused opposing defenses this season, the whirlwind that was Thursday for the indispensable Bull shouldn't surprise.

First, near 1 p.m., Rose revealed he is suffering from two stomach ulcers that have his availability for Friday night's showdown with the Magic in question.

Later, just after 6 p.m., came the expected news that Rose will be an Eastern Conference All-Star starter, the Bulls' first since Michael Jordan in 1998.

Given that Rose spent a quiet Thursday night at home with his mother attending to him, guess which storyline most consumed the ubercompetitor?

"If anything, she'll be happier than I am," Rose said of his mother, before the official announcement. "Things like that really don't get to me. That's not the type of thing that would excite me.

"I'd be happy for myself, but it's nothing like I'm going to have a party over it or have a bunch of people over and celebrate. I don't know why. That's just the way I am."

Rose will start in the East backcourt with fellow local product Dwyane Wade, whom he almost caught in final fan voting. The Heat's Wade drew 2,048,175 votes, while Rose finished with 1,914,996. The Celtics' Rajon Rondo finished a distant third with 1,587,297.

"I'm feeling loved right now, and I appreciate all the support," Rose said in a statement after the announcement. "I want to thank all the fans that voted, especially the people from my hometown of Chicago.

"I also want to give thanks to the Bulls' organization that did a great job promoting me. And most of all, I want to thank my teammates and coaches for putting me in this position."

Wade and Rose, who was the league's fifth-highest vote-getter, will be joined by the Magic's Dwight Howard at center and the Heat's LeBron James and the Knicks' Amare Stoudemire at forward. West starters are the Lakers' Kobe Bryant and the Hornets' Chris Paul at guard, the Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony and the Thunder's Kevin Durant at forward and the injured Yao Ming of the Rockets at center.

Coaches will vote for reserves, who will be announced Feb. 3. Carlos Boozer has a decent chance, while Luol Deng is a remote possibility.

Rose has unveiled a bolder, more confident off-the-court personality all season, which surfaced most dramatically on the eve of training camp when he rhetorically asked why he couldn't be the league's most valuable player.

Against that backdrop, surely Rose believes an All-Star starting nod is another progression in his meteoric development.

"Yes, it was one of the goals," Rose said. "But having a winning record and getting MVP would mean more. And of course a championship would be on the top of the list."

Indeed, as fun as starry exhibitions are, winning drives Rose, which is why he's so focused on playing Friday.

Rose experienced heartburn Monday and was prescribed medication Tuesday. But when the pain intensified, he contacted athletic trainer Fred Tedeschi and a subsequent battery of tests Wednesday at Rush University Medical Center revealed his ulcers, which Rose said are diet — not stress — related.

"They gave me some pills thinking (the heartburn) was going to go away," Rose said. "But I couldn't sleep through the night. I thought I was having a heart attack. That's when I called Fred.

"I couldn't believe it. I woke up and the doctor wasn't in the room. My mom had all these pictures of my stomach and showing me where the ulcers were. There are actually two, a nice-sized one and a smaller one. It hit me hard. I thought I was eating fine. I had a chef and everything. But I have to stop eating spicy food."

For now, Rose will be treated with medication and dietary changes.

Rose said it's "real painful to eat, drink and swallow" and that his "energy is kind of low" because of his lack of intake. Coach Tom Thibodeau said C.J. Watson would start and Ronnie Brewer would play backup point guard if Rose can't play.

"He's better (Thursday) than he was (Wednesday)," Thibodeau said. "We're not going to change the way we play."

Thibodeau coached both Rondo and Rose, so he knows a little something about All-Star guards.

"I certainly think he's more than worthy," Thibodeau said. "What he has done for our team speaks for itself. He has lifted us up. The team has played well. I think he has earned it.

"I don't think he's ever satisfied. He's driven to get better every day. You see his commitment. You're going to continue to see him get better because of the work he puts in and his attitude and approach to the game."